Leave No Trace Of Yourself

[Alena]

When you do something, you should burn yourself completely, like a good bonfire, leaving no trace of yourself.

-Shunryu Suzuki

A lot of us want to do good in the world, and many want credit for it. I often think that the best good can be done when there is no credit given for it, lest the good deed be overshadowed by the person who did it.

On the whole, it is best if either the good deed is done and represented by many people or is as anonymous as possible.

People like to have role models and often put people up on pedestals. They like to have people to look up to as examples of how to live by and it's a very human thing to do. But on the whole, you are best living up to your own standards and worshipping no one, as we are all peers on the path.

The finger pointing at the moon is not the moon.


~Alena

[Darth Draconis]

If I'm not mistaken, you meanthat to do things in secrecy is best, am I correct?

[Alena]

darthdraconis said:

If I'm not mistaken, you meanthat to do things in secrecy is best, am I correct?

The point isn't secrecy as much as humility.

It's better to be unknown than known. I speak from experience.



~Alena

[Volund Starfire]

It is common for most people to seek recognition of their actions. It is human. However, for a Jedi, we need no recognition for our actions as our actions are part of the "greater picture." Yes, it feels good when we are acknowledged for a great action, but for a Jedi that does not matter. A Jedi knows that to perform such a great action is the true reward, and is far more superior than the recognition for it.

[Alena]

Well spoken!





~Alena

[christopher]

You do it long enough, though, and you not only don't want recognition for your deeds, you just want to get them over with and move on. You really start to get cynical about the whole thing, after so long.

A bad example would be my father, who was a cop (I say it's a bad example because ALL cops are this way), and developed a great cynical attitude. It wasn't so much that the job bored him, because it didn't, but he got an attitude of "oh God, let's just get this over with."

Firefighters and Paramedics are much the same way; when you run code to the hospital, it's not always because you're trying to save the patient. Just as often, it's because you want to get it FINISHED. Screw recognition.

[Spark]

This is a good one.

I think it's important to focus on the task or the gift that one has to do the job, but not on the "hey, look what I did!" Frankly, I feel uncomfortable when people bring up what I have done in the past (even the good ).

It's somewhat Taoist but to say that we should be like the Force and invisible in our doings like the Force is not "seen" makes sense to me. Focus on the deed and the results, not the doer.

[Mrs. Darth Vader]

Good post Alena. Humility is a very good trait to have and premote. If I do a good I keep it secret. I even look both ways as if crossing the street befor doing a good deed. I learned to have the stealth of a guerilla warrior when doing a good deed because if you get cought doing a kind act every one will persecute you and attack you. That is why I keep them secret.

[Darth Necrom]

Ill add my own 2 cents to this, but it has been said in other ways through out this thread. Good deeds should be done without the thought of reward and often you shall be rewarded without even meaning to be. With that said I shall also go so far as to say that a deed done seeking reward is no good deed at all. I, certainly guilty of greed and rightly so, can say that i have violated this one many a great time. If i get a privelege taken away I know that im going to (for lack of a better word) kiss whomevers butt i need to inorder to regain my status.

[neo]

the social world if we live in it shapes our ways and ourselves.

I do not mind statuses, for me such things are just role-play. be it called as such or not. it's just Role + play.

Being able to be happy just because you decide to be happy, and without needing any other reason for it along with inner-peace and calmness will make the whole matter different. You just don't need any attention or thanx.
I mean the whole worldfull of people can think of me as they want as long as I can live the way I decide I don't waste time to think about how I am seen.
and hmm IMO what matters in case of doing good to someone is that you actually do something good. the background thinking can be anything. but as this worrying and thinking is a waste of energy I simply decide to not indulge in lenghty dialogue in my head and use it as a CPU that I decided to use only to make my spirit-body bond even more impeccable in what I do.

also as I see no value in like what I just typed... I wouldn't mind if it would be accidentally lost. If someone can find anything useful from this ramble it is